Miliband shrugs off poor showing in ratings

Mr Miliband insisted he was going to “go out and do it my own way”, including admitting where Labour had “got it wrong” in the past.

“We have a living standards crisis in this country and we have got to tackle it. There is a big contrast in politics today – the Tories think a few millionaires at the top will create the wealth in this country and get our economy going,” he told ITV’s Daybreak.

“We think we need a recovery made by the many, that is why we have got to support the living standards of ordinary families.”

Asked about his approval ratings two years before a General Election in comparison to those enjoyed by David Cameron and Tony Blair, Mr Miliband said: “I am not going to get into these comparisons. I am going to go out and do it my own way. We are coming off the back of a difficult General Election defeat in 2010.

“What have I done? I have talked about the things Labour got wrong – I have been open and honest about that. I have set out a vision for our country, what I call One Nation – using the talents of every person in the country and then we are setting out specific policies that can make a difference.”

Mr Miliband’s remarks come as Labour prepares to fight local elections in England and one authority in Wales on Thursday. Mr Miliband would not be drawn on how many seats he believed Labour would gain. “These are tough elections for Labour because they are taking place in predominantly conservative areas. I hope we will make gains,” he said.

The latest monthly study by YouGov for the University of Essex showed Mr Cameron’s popularity at its lowest since the last general election.

Voters awarded the Prime Minister an average ranking of 3.5 out of 10, down from 5.1 in May 2010.

Mr Miliband’s rating also dipped from 4.4 when he became Opposition leader to 3.75. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is now rated the lowest at 3.04.